Ernest Bevin Quotes

1881 - 1951

English Labour politician. He formed
the National Transport and General Workers' Union, becoming
its General Secretary (1921^40), then entered politics. He
was appointed Minister of Labour and National Service in the
coalition, and later Foreign Secretary (1945^51).

Ernest Bevin Labour Party Annual Conference Report 1935 Speech to the Labour Party conference, 1 October 1935, criticising George Lansbury. Lansbury, a pacifist, was publicly agonising about the need to confront fascist Italy over Abyssinia; Bevin's speech convinced the conference to back sanctions, and when the vote went against him, Lansbury resigned as Leader of the Labour Party.

Ernest Bevin Hansard HC 6ser vol 449 col 841 Speech to recruiting meeting, December 1943. Bevin had introduced a system whereby some men conscripted for National Service would be transferred to working in coal-mining; because of this speech, they were known as 'Bevin boys'.

Ernest Bevin Attributed to Bevin in the Spectator, 20 April 1951. Bevin's definition of his foreign policy. Variously quoted as "to be able to buy a ticket at Victoria Station to anywhere I damn please!".